France Wins Gold in Men’s Rugby Sevens
France celebrated their first gold medal of the Paris 2024 Olympics in the men’s rugby sevens. Led by Antoine Dupont, France defeated the double-defending champions Fiji with a remarkable 28-7 victory at the Stade de France. Fiji initially took the lead, but France equalized by halftime and dominated the second half. Dupont’s final try sealed the win, thrilling the home crowd. Fiji took silver, while South Africa secured bronze by defeating Australia 26-19.
Cycling Triumphs for Belgium and Australia
In the men’s individual time trial, Belgium’s Remco Evenepoel won gold, clocking 36 minutes and 12.16 seconds over a challenging 32.4 km course. Evenepoel’s victory added to his world title, as he finished ahead of Italy’s Filippo Ganna and fellow Belgian Wout van Aert.
In the women’s road cycling event, Australia’s Grace Brown claimed gold with an impressive performance. Brown finished 1 minute and 31.59 seconds ahead of the UK’s Anna Henderson, who took silver. American world champion Chloe Dygert secured bronze despite challenging conditions.
Judo Success for France and Kazakhstan
In women’s judo, Japan’s Natsumi Tsunoda won gold in the under 48kg category, defeating Mongolia’s Baasankhuu Bavuudorj. France’s Shirine Boukli earned bronze alongside Sweden’s Tara Babulfath.
Kazakhstan’s Yeldos Smetov triumphed in the men’s under 60kg judo event, securing his country’s first gold medal in Paris. France’s Luka Mkheidze won silver, while Japan’s Nagayama Ryuju and Spain’s Francisco Garrigos each took bronze.
Summary
The first day of the Paris 2024 Olympics saw host nation France triumph in men’s rugby sevens, Belgium and Australia excel in cycling, and successful judo performances from Japan and Kazakhstan. The competitions showcased exceptional talent and set an exciting tone for the games ahead.
